almanac

noun al·ma·nac \ ˈȯl-mə-ˌnak , ˈal- \

Definition of almanac

1 :a publication containing astronomical and meteorological data for a given year and often including a miscellany of other information

2 :a usually annual publication containing statistical, tabular, and general information

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Examples of almanac in a Sentence

an almanac of town news

Recent Examples of almanac from the Web

As a 12-year-old in Texas in 1985, the astronomy enthusiast discovered in his almanac that the next time the U.S. would experience a total solar eclipse would be 2017.

— marco santana, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Central Floridians eagerly await eclipse," 18 Aug. 2017
There's more than just weather in the almanac, which has a circulation of 2.1 million in North America.

— Bloomberg.com, "Almanac: Plenty of Cold, Snow for This Winter for Northeast," 13 Aug. 2017
The past year’s dire prophecies evolved into a kind of almanac for democratic decline, replete with lists of warnings signs and worst case scenarios.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Six Months In, Is Trump’s America Living Up to Liberals’ Worst Fears?," 22 July 2017
Though born during a time when America's economy was horse-powered and crops-driven, the almanacs are no longer just for farmers.

— meg jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Photos: Farmers' Almanac still relevant in digital world," 1 July 2017
But this book is not just an almanac of wacky facts.

— National Geographic, "Florida Man Explains His State's Weirdness," 28 Aug. 2016
If the selling keeps up through the end of the month, the almanac suggests investors should sell stocks and wait for the inevitable further decline.

— james b. stewart, New York Times, "Stock Markets Shudder After Chinese Stock Plunge Forces a Trading Halt JAN. 6, 2016," 7 Jan. 2016
This is a book for readers who like to graze a book’s small plates or bite-size nibbles, nonfiction readers, science-fiction readers, people who browse almanacs, people who surf the dictionary, because one word just leads to another.

— randy alfred, WIRED, "Introducing Mad Science, a History Book of Our Wired World," 14 Nov. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'almanac.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of almanac

Middle English almenak, from Medieval Latin almanach, probably from Arabic al-manākh the almanac

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

ALMANAC Defined for English Language Learners

almanac

noun

Definition of almanac for English Language Learners

: a book published every year that contains facts about the movements of the sun and moon, changes in the tides, and information of general interest
: a book published every year that contains detailed information on a special subject

ALMANAC Defined for Kids

almanac

noun al·ma·nac \ ˈȯl-mə-ˌnak , ˈal- \

Definition of almanac for Students

:a book published yearly that contains facts about weather and astronomy and other general information

Learn More about almanac

See words that rhyme with almanac Spanish Central: Translation of almanac Nglish: Translation of almanac for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about almanac

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